Game apparatus



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER ANDRIOT, OF BELLEVUE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CI-IAS. XV. HOUSE, OF COVINGTON, AND WILLIAM J. XVILMER, OF FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY.

GAME APPRATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5915794, clated October 12, 1897. Application filed May 24, 1897. Serial No. 637327. (Ne model.)

To all whom may cancer-n:

Be it known that I, PETER ANDRIOT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bellevue, Campbell county, State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Imitation Base-Ball Game; and I do deelare the following to be a full, clear, and'eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference-numerals marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a game apparatus whereby a game imitating in miniature some of the features of the baseball game may be played indoors.

The princip-al object of this invention is to provide a game apparatus which as against other devices of the same kind .and for the same purpose, is constructed in a manner to work with less mechanicall y fixed and limited accuraoy and unifornity, so that in the playing of the game various and many ohances for calculation are afforded, whereby sameness and monotony by repetition of similar act-ions are avoided and the interest in the game thereby heightened.

Another object and feature of the device is to use a Construction which permits manufacture of them with limited faeilities and in great numbers at small eXpense.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, is found a full description of the invention, its manner of use, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the apparatus ready for use. Fig. 2 is a top View of the same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of it, and Fig. 4 shows in 'part of a similar View certain members in a different position.

The ball 6, used in this game, is not thrown, but goes through its motion by rolling on a base-board 7, which, to prevent said ball from dropping ofl, is provided with a raised margin 8 all around.

The pitcher is represented by a pin 9, which projects u pwardly through a curved slot 10 in the base-board, while the batter is in form of an arm 11, pivotally supported in a manner to have at the same time the -inherent property of a spring action, whereby whenever displaced it rebounds to its normal position. In addition to this spring-support, thearm itself is of elastic material. It is preferably constructed of spring-wire which is shaped to form two parallel members, at the ends of which one is bentdownwardly to form the u pright connection 12 set into the base-board, while the other is first turned to form a coilspring 13, aft-er which this end is connected to the base-board in a manner similar to the other one. The height from the base-board of this arm ll is such that it corresponds with the size of the ball-that is, it is such that the latter will strike it when it rolls against it.

The respective positions of the `catcher, basemen, in anclout fielders, &(3., are represented by depressions 14: of a size to cause the ball to be arrested and retained whenever it drops into one of them. v

In practice I have found that the quickest way to obtain these depressions is by cutting holes completely through the base-board,their diameter being slightlyless than the diameter of the ball, to prevent this latter from dropping completely through.

As to rules for playing the game, the rules of the nation-al game of base-ball may be adapted as near as it is possible to imitate them, or special rules may be adapted. Presents might be. given when the ball reaches a certain position, hole,) the Value to be graded according, to the difficulty with which certain holes may be reaehed.

The number of players is not material. Pin 9 (the pitcher) occupies normally one end of slot 10, the one nearest to the batter. For use it is then retracted in its slot, the ball placed in front of it, after which the pin is released, when by spring-pressure it returns to its normal position, impelling thereby the ball against the batter from which, rebounding, it is sent out into the field, where it generally strikes the raised rin first, after which, perambulatng from side to side much on the fashion of a billiard-ball, it may sooner or later either, in the favorable case, enter one of`the holes or, by missing them altogether, come to a standstill on the base-board.

The details of the mechanical Construction for Operating the pitcher are as follows: Pin 9 forms part of an arm 15, the whole preferably formed of onepiece of wire bent at right angles to form at one end said pin 9, while the other end is first formed into a coil-spring 16 and embedded or set into the base-board from underneath. For its operation a pnll-rod 17 is aflixed to arm 15 and is extended underneath the board to the end opposite from where the batter is located, where it projects and forms a handle 18. This rod may be supported in suitable holes in cleats 19, upon which at the same time the device rests. It will be observed that the movements of the ball are dependent-on several factors, all coacting toward producing the final effect, and a change of any such factor will correspondingly vary the final outcome, thus avoiding repetition of same efiect and exciting interest by affording chances for calculation. These factors are the position of the ball on slot 10, the position of pin 9 within such slot, and the position of pin 9 with reference to the ball, meaning in every case the position before pin 9' is released to shoot the ball. For instance, the ball may be near the front of the slot, as shown in Fig. 3, and the pin may be at any point within the slot and between its end and the ball, or the pin may be immediately behind the ball, but their joint position may be changed together to within any part of the slot, as shown in Fig. et. While the` position of the pin within slot 10 changes the force with which the ball is impelled against the batter, so the position of the ball on slot 10 changes the pointof impact of the latter with the former, since the relative position between the two is changed by reason of the curve of the slotr If the ball strikes arm 11 more remote from its pivotal support, then the force of its rebounding action by which it throws the ball out will be increased. Th-is rebounding action is also dependent on two factors and which consist of the elasticity of certain arm itself as well as of the spring actioi of its pivotal support. If struck by a Weak ball, this rebound will be caused only i by the reaction of the arm alonewithout drawing on the action of the spring at its pivotal the arm as well as of its support. i

be mentioned yet that the ball itself is of rubsupport. haust the elasticity of the spring-arm, but also cause it to turn partly about its pivotal support, engaging, in addition, the spring thereat, and the rebound would be efiected by the conjoint reaction of the springiness of It should ber, preferably solid, whereby another element is added to .those which determine the movement of the ball. This material also lessens the noise caused by the impact of the ball with rim 8. It willthus be seen that all requirements for a fascinating indoor game are complied with in a simple but Satisfactory manner.

Having described my invention, I claim as newl. In a game of the kind described, the combination 'of a base-board having a raised rim and a substantal representation ot' a baseball field on its upper surface, with depressions indicatin g certain positions,a ball adapted to enter any one of them, an arm 11 having an elastic reaction when struck by a ball, a spring-actuated pin 9 adapted when. released after retracted, to propel the ball against arm ll and a curved slot 10 within 'which said pin moves and on any point of which in front of the retracted pin the ball may be placed.-

2. In a game of the kind described, the combination of a base-board having a raised rim spring and a pnll-rod 17 connected to this` lever 15 and projecting beyond one end of the base-board where it is provided with a` handle for manipulation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER ANDRIO'L lVitnesses:

C. SPENGEL, CHARLES W. HOUSE,

A strong ball would not only ex-- IOO 

